Thousands protest haredi violence in Jerusalem

[Scurrilous]

Seculars, religious march in capital Saturday night to protest ultra-Orthodox coercion. 'We are facing danger that threatens not only Jerusalem, but Israeli society at large,' secular Jerusalem activist says

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3811967,00.html

<snip>

"Thousands of secular and religious Jerusalemites and out-of-towners rallied in the capital Saturday to protest ultra-Orthodox violence and coercion.

The protesters marched from Paris Square to Zion Square in the Jerusalem city'center under the banner: "Iran is here – we're sick of haredi violence."

Haredi rioters should be detained and indicted, Knesset Member Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz) said during the protest.

"One time it's a parking lot, another time it's Intel, and in another case it's the Pride Parade," he said. "These are merely excuses for shows of force, violence, and coercion."

"I would love to raise my two small children in a city where they would have the legitimacy to do whatever their faith commands them," Yehonatan Alazar, a religious local, told Ynet.

"It's unheard of that a small group will dictate everyone's actions and cause them to leave town. What bothers me about the struggle against Intel is that (haredim) are forcing others to desecrate the Shabbat, just as they do themselves. Their interest is not the Shabbat, but rather, the power struggle in Jerusalem," he said."

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Why can't (or couldn't) Americans do this in protest against the evangelicals controlling so much

of our country? Evangelicals here try to sway the country against gays, against women's bodily rights, etc. It would be nice if we Americans got out there and protested the evangelical groups here that do so much harm in the U.S.

[Violet_Crumble]

3. That's got fuck all to do with the subject of the OP...

This thread's about the haredi. There's nothing stopping you starting a thread in GD if you want to talk about something else...

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Good idea, though the level of violence is much lower. ALso your typical KKK

rally gets many more opponents that supporters.

[safeinOhio]

2. Good news at last

The crazy settlers and right wing war mongers need to be driven into the sea.

[henank]

4. Driven into the sea? !

Very peaceful opinion you have there. :sarcasm:

To quote Violet above, that's got f-- all to do with the topic in this thread. If you think haredim are the same as settlers and "right-wing" warmongers, you have just exposed your own sorry ignorance.

[LeftishBrit]

7. I don't think anyone should be driven into the sea. Just made to behave themselves.

[LeftishBrit]

6. Good. Religious extremists should not be allowed to intimidate others.